Bring Talent Home: How Greater Springfield’s Talent Strategy Will Shape the Future

The most valuable asset any community can offer isn’t land, buildings, or tax incentives; it’s people—talented, skilled people. In the race to attract new employers and grow existing ones, Greater Springfield is stepping up with a bold plan to keep and bring back the workforce our economy needs to thrive.

Talent is the New Infrastructure

For decades, businesses have chosen locations based on proximity to highways, ports, and transportation hubs. But that game has changed. According to Area Development Magazine, “Availability of Skilled Talent” has overtaken highway access as the top site selection factor for relocating companies since 2016. Talent has become the new infrastructure, and communities that ignore this shift do so at their own risk.

Just look at Chicago, IL. In the past five years alone, 60 corporate headquarters have moved there, citing one reason: “We need to go where the talent is.”

That same urgency is now pressing on cities nationwide, including ours. We risk falling behind if Springfield doesn’t create a strong talent pipeline to meet workforce demand.

EXPAND 2029’s Fourth Pillar: Attract Talent

To keep Greater Springfield competitive and prepared for the future, the Attract Talent initiative under EXPAND 2029 invests $1.375 million over five years to lead aggressive, data-informed strategies that directly address our talent needs.

Strategy #1: “Consider Clark County”

This marketing and outreach campaign will be built to spotlight everything that makes living and working in Clark County compelling. It will target individuals who may have left the region or commute out every day, with a clear message: opportunity is here.

This campaign will aim to build emotional and economic connections to the region, especially among skilled professionals, through targeted digital ads, social media, billboards, and high-touch outreach.

Strategy #2: “Reverse the Commute”

Today, too many Clark County residents leave the community daily for work in surrounding counties. EXPAND 2029 aims to reverse that flow and reduce net outbound commuters by 10% over five years (around 900 people).

This work will include employer-led campaigns highlighting open positions, spotlighting local companies, and offering incentives to attract former commuters back to local jobs. It’s an economic retention plan with far-reaching impact, from increased local spending to improved quality of life.

Strategy #3: Next-Gen ClarkCounty.jobs

A redesigned ClarkCounty.jobs website will serve as the hub of this initiative. With enhanced tools like:

• Custom job search features tailored to user profiles
• Employer spotlights and featured positions
• Job market dashboards and trend data
• Integration with YouScience aptitude assessments

The site will transform into a dynamic, personalized platform that connects talent directly with opportunity.

Strategy #4: Consistent, Targeted Outreach

Annual ad campaigns, monthly email newsletters, and custom dashboards—the Attract Talent initiative is not a one-time push; it’s a sustained, multi-channel effort to build awareness and drive action over five years.

Each touchpoint is designed to:

• Engage potential workers
• Encourage relocation or return
• Support businesses looking to fill critical positions

What This Means for Springfield

Attracting talent is a community growth strategy. With more people working locally:

• Local businesses grow from increased daytime spending
• Housing demand rises, supporting development
• Public services benefit from a stronger tax base
• Quality of life improves as residents spend more time where they live

Building the Talent Engine for Tomorrow

The Attract Talent initiative prepares Greater Springfield for the next generation of employers and ensures that our homegrown talent sees a future here.

Because, in the end, economic development is about people. And EXPAND 2029 is investing in ours.